

kyle
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Everything posted by kyle
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I have not purchased car and driver in years....but with the mustang on the cover and scanning the info on the edge...I spent the $4 or whatever it costs. I thought the article was well written and very accurate. They praised the styling of the vehicle while pointing out it's shortcomings....mainly some minor details that could be quickly added. I think with the pressure to keep the msrp down, reduce rebates and have standard side air bags they decontented several items. We know about that....don't think it is a deal breaker-at least to me. The customer that they are going to target is the explorer/expedition owner who is looking to downsize into something a little more car like. What is there....4-5 million explorer's and expeditions on the roads today...huge potential right there. They will also target the other suv owners....most of them domestic. I don't think they will spend a lot of $$ going after the import crowd right now....no need to initially.
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Nor did George Bush...but that is for another board:)
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Did Ford really neglect its car lineup?
kyle replied to NickF1011's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
you mean 1973!!! -
heh how about the ford econoline sales!!!
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Well you do live in Michigan!! One of the things that I notice right away when ever I visit the area is just the number of domestic vehicles around. It is just not indicative of the real world because where I live most of my neighbors don't even own a domestic vehicle. Or if it is one it will be 1. truck 2. suv 3. chrsyler minivan/pacifica And the one quote that I got a kick out of from May's was about how some people around here can't even tell the difference...and now I have not seen the production version but those are the guys that make me nervous.
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Well that is because if toyota does anything they do it with consistency!! I happen to really like the styling on the camry-looks very lexus. They also have added some very nice colors to the car...just takes on a more upscale look. I hear it drive's like a buick though. Now I would be pretty pissed if I just bought a new lexus 330 sedan-everyone would think it was a camry! The corolla does well because it is just very reliable affordable transportation. It is on everyone's shopping list as a barometer to other vehicles. Guess you could say that about the camry as well. Numerous surveys have indicated that the buying experience at toyota was terrible-some of the worst in the industry-but the customer love's their product. Think jaguar had just the opposite problem a few years back when customer's were dealing with some recalls, etc. They were frustrated with the vehicle but the dealer was kissing their behind.
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I like the cx-7 as well. Priced really well and has alot of style. Only thing I noticed was the back seat area just felt a little cheap with some of the materials especially the back of the center console. Maybe it was the model I checked out. btw are you getting any reaction on the road while driving it? hope it does well because it is similar to the edge in styling.
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I just tallied my vote...getting ready for next tuesday! Not that it matters where I live in atlanta the election is over by lunch here. I have good friends that I disagree with over political issues, religious issues, sports, cars, etc. Always civil and that is why they are my friends-we respect each other-nothing more. I had a so called friend a few years ago berate me for seeing the michael moore film about 9/11. When he said fuck you and left I was taken back. Took him 3 months to apologize-A little longer that Kerry took but the point being is that we are all adults and above all the personal attacks are very childish. We can agree to disagree but it serves no one. Can you imagine.....you are a ford executive and are reviewing plans about a certain product with 10 other coworkers. Debate becomes lively because you want side air bags standard (your in marketing). Well one of the bean counters who is responsible for this vehicle's developmental budget says "fuck you." Now what do you think happens? He gets a promotion? Or he gets a $150k buyout package? Point being is to everyone please tone it down...this is a great site and needs to stay that way. Only other comment is richard can you remove the other post(s) that started all this by tomorrow....we really need to move on. Thanks.
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Ford October 2006 Sales Figures
kyle replied to Blue Oval Staff's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
I agree.....short term gain which they clearly are do not need-although it would be good news for all of 6 months until they slap a $4k rebate on the hood. Besides the camry you are probably never going to see a mega volume car produced in multiple plants..it is just way to hard to sustain. Too bad they are not hitting the target with the milan....that is not the trend that anyone who wants mercury to survive to see. I too see very little national advertising from ford. Some of that may be due to the high inventory of dealer's and their marketing efforts are given (co-op) to the dealer's who push the deal before the product-not that I would have a problem with that if I was sitting on $5million in inventory -
It certainly does! I like the design for most of the IP and as has been mentioned before they could use a little better materials but for the most part they got this thing right. I think that the exterior style will get people in the door and interested in the vehicle...will someone not buy the car because of a trim piece or two-probably not-actually I am pretty damn certain that won't kill the deal...but hopefully they will spend a few extra $$'s upgrading some pieces and adding things like power up and down for all 4 windows.
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Actually seemed like the best one of these since the first or second episode. And in the long run it is good to not feel secure-drive's all of us to do better and not take things for granted. Too bad about his Tiger's though....and I wonder what the lady in the plant was wearing that had her shirt blurred?
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I am not certain of the market size but if I recall I remember some industry (ford executives) personnel predicting that it will be 1 million units in the next 3 years.....even larger than the midsize suv segment and by far one of the fastest growing. The murano does not have huge numbers probably due to it still looks a little space age for many. I think the edge is progressive enough in it's styling to appeal to not only the conserative buyer (usually in mid america market that the domestics dominate due to local dealer's in every small town) but also someone who does not want another "me too" vehicle.
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Or maybe they should just be marketing the vehicle!!!
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Hi Guys, Hope everyone had a nice evening....seemed a little tense here yesterday. We all seem to view things differently-food-woman (hopefully most of you like them!)-politics and cars. I think the edge is ford's biggest launch unti the 150 is redone in 2 years. Their main competition is the murano-mostly agree? Thought it would be kind of fun to do our own review of the murano and compare opinions. Maybe someone (myself included) can devise a spreadsheet with detail list of vehicle attibutes. We descend upon the local dealership and go over a competitor's vehicle and do the same with the edge. I am thinking only of things that we can review without driving the vehicle. Body gaps-finish-molding-trim-design, etc. Interior design, controls placement-radio features-cupholders-window switches-glove box-etc. Engine struts or rod for hood-all fluid area's marked and accessible-engine design-battery displayed or easy to jump start-light inside the compartment, etc. And I am thinking a very thorough review down to the owner's manual (does it have a seperate service folder-how to change your own oil-bulbs, etc. How easy is it to find the tire pressure-((never where you think it would be!)). Get a brochure-how is the content-are they selling a lifestyle or presenting the vehicle on it's own merit-etc. What do you guys think? Maybe in 2-3 weeks we can review the edge with the same info as well. Then maybe in a month or two we do a comparison with the 150 (not the new guy on the block so valid when comparing the murano) vs the chevy silverado. Maybe we put a number (1-5) and add up points on the vehicle.
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For the life of me I wonder why anyone would want their car to parrallel park for them. Can you imagine buying a car that helps you park-wtf? But I don't know what studies you allude to RJ but I got to tell you the rest of the car industry obviously is not reading them. Maybe it came from a Ford study! A friend of mine had the 2nd generation taurus (killed that car right there even if they sold a shit load-imo) with that flat faced radio....I was telling him how much of a pain in the ass that radio is to work....hold a button to raise the volume, etc (bright green though richard!) and his comment back to me was how ford designed the radio to be safe so in a car accident as my face is being crushed by the radio no buttons will protude into my skull! I want things that work in a vehicle (that is a given in today's market)...but one of the reason why I like a car is because of the cool things that add value. My bmw has a heated steering wheel which is nice on a chilly morning. I like dodge caliper's heated adn cooled cup holders (or is that the sebring-ugly vehicle-cool feature)-drop down speakers in the rear-cupholders that are illuminated
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That is good to know....hopefully these things will sell by the boatload or railway load since they don't come from overseas. The front end of the MKX is the best looking lincoln...I don't like the front grill on the navigator but somehow it works on your vehicle. I too also liked the interior in the aviator and last navigator.....very nice. good luck-when are they building your vehicle? I also like the new M series...they got that right...because the earlier version was just terrible. And although I really like rwd sedans I have to give acura some credit-their TL is a pretty slick package. Although the interior is a little busy with a mixture of trim materials it seems to work prety well and that sound system is the best I have ever heard in an automobile. I think the upcoming MKS is going to appeal to me a lot more than the Mkx ever will...but than again I would not buy an entry level luxury car....just not the target market.
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Don't have a problem forgetting about the past but I think-hell I know- I should not be seeing product come into today's market without different sheetmetal and interiors, let alone platform, etc. At the end of the day it is just disappointing-kind of like your favorite sport's team coming out and playing flat-no game plan-no energy-just showing up-well that my friend is not good enough.
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don't disagree one bit... but they are in the automotive business and have been talking about it for the past 6-7 years about creating unique products for their brands not just rebadging the product and besides the LS have not done shit I think things are settling down and we will see modest changes 3 years from now but it is still a long way off and the competition is not letting up.... just about every vehicle's sales slump right before it is replaced so that position means nothing...now if next years they are down 17% then it will be different.....
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baby steps......they are in the car business and have been for the past 100 years! Now if they just started making cars 40 years ago and were making motorcycles (or Zero's!) before that I may give them some excuses....but the fact of the matter is that they have no one to blame but themselves....and it is not just ford-it is all three domestic car companies that have failed to put product front and center since the 80's. the subaru that operates 50/50 is with their manual transmission only. the one with an automatic will split the system to 90/10 and my guess is why subaru advertises it to be performance related is because when they first went awd in 96 (100% in the states) it was sold as safety...when they brought in the wrx the message was modified....subaru builds a hell of a car and their awd system is probably the best around.
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yah $4k better leather! yah look where GM and Ford have got with their wonderful brand management. Which is exactly why I am puzzled why anyone would defend certain product right now... they are in this mess because they fail to differentiate their product and update it enough. When you continuously dilute the brand this way this is what happens. Now if lincoln had a different look and interior I would give them a lot more credit but they don't. VW has this same issue over in Europe...they have multiple brands and are having a problem with people buying their vw brand as opposed to skoda. The interiors, engines and look are almost identical.
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Did Taurus introduce the cargo net?
kyle replied to Roadrunner's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
you have to be kidding....real boring day in the car industry!! what I want to know is who invented the padded center console with two pullout cupholders.... -
so you would pay the extra $$ for the unique (my ass) leather seats, etc.? It is a shame that for the last 5 years they have done nothing with the brand....and I will blame it all on a floundering change in management. I think it will change because well for one they have been saying it for the last what 5 years that it will...but still a disappointmnet. And I for one would take a G35 anyday over the zephyr...hell I would take my 97 528 over the zephyr. I am just a big fan of rwd cars in that category. And let's see what happens to the mkz sales in the next few years. and is it only me or does anyone else have a problem with mkx, mkz, etc. At first I thought it was a good idea but now it is just way to fucking confusing!
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so what are you saying richard...? I would pick out an edge anyday over the lincoln....and I happen to like the mkx but there is no way in hell that I would pay the price for the same damn thing..... say what you want about the zephyr being a success but it is hardly that...the benchmark in that field is the G35 and Acura TL and they are not even in that league...hopefully they will learn from those mistakes and start to differentiate their vehicles.
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I agree with you 100% I really like the Edge...no doubt going to be a huge success story for them...more than the fusion..... but how many of us would spend the extra $4000 on the lincoln? Kind of reminds me what cadillac did to the cavalier...what the hell was it called....